Deadly Illusion

A Suspenseful Standalone (Secrets and the City, Book 1)

De: Kathy Lockheart

Narrado por: Sarah Puckett, Michael Norman Johnson

AN AMAZON TOP 25 BESTSELLER!

I was able to hide the bruises from everyone... until an MMA fighter came along. Now he'll die to protect me. Maybe even kill... He insists I stay with him for protection, but Damian is keeping his own dark secrets and warns me that anyone who gets close to him will be in danger…Worse, my assailant is determined to finish what he started.

And now, my life, along with the lives of everyone I love…… is in peril.

Can Damian and I survive and get our happily ever after?

Or will this fairy tale end in murder?

*STANDALONE, no cliffhanger

©2021 Kathy Lockheart (P)2025 KATHY LOCKHEART

Slow burn romantic suspense!

This friends to lovers, forbidden, second chance, slow burn, emotional romantic suspense was really well done. The author gives up the perspective of a domestic abuse survivor in a respective, realistic manner.

These characters were flawed, tortured, and human. Jenna and Damian had an intense, effortless connection and I really liked how their relationship developed. The plot was really good and I did not expect the plot twist.

Even though the book was written only from Jenna's POV, I really enjoyed the duet narration by Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson and felt it really added to the experience of the audiobook.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A heavy but good read

The narrators Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson rocked their performance in Deadly Illusions. Please check the trigger warnings when listening to/reading this book, especially if you are sensitive to DV. When Jenna met Colton she thought she thought their relationship was perfect, until it wasn’. The moment he put his hands on her, she was put in a tailspin. Why would he do this? He said sorry. No one can know. It won’t happen again. Listening to Jenna’s whole story and the twists and scary turns had me on the edge. When her acquaintance, Damian helped her when her brother was injured, she looked at him and the safety he represented more closely. Colton was hella toxic and any kindness from random men given to Jenna would set him off. This story was heavy, tense, sad, frustrating but still hopeful.

Emotional Rollercoaster

I love this book. The duet narration was excellent . I absolutely recommend people listen to this book

Emotional Read

Deadly Illusion by Kathy Lockheart is an emotional read with themes of domestic abuse, resilience, and unexpected love. The story follows Jenna, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, whose life takes a turn when she meets Damian, an MMA fighter with his own dark past. As Jenna’s abuser becomes more dangerous, putting not only her but also those she loves at risk, Damian steps in to protect her, offering her strength and support, even as he battles his own demons.

Lockheart portrays the complexities of abusive relationships in a way that feels both raw and heart-wrenching. Toward the end, a shocking twist adds a tragic element to the story. While the turn of events is unexpected and dramatic, it still captures the harsh realities of domestic violence and its devastating consequences. This story is not only an emotional read, but also sheds light on the impact of abuse and the immense strength it takes to break free.

Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson deliver a fantastic audiobook performance, bringing all the characters to life. Their narration captures Jenna and Damian’s struggles, making the tension, fear, and resilience feel even more real.

This was good but

For me personally, the heart break was gut wrenching in this one. Maybe I’m more sensitive or something but very few books make me actually cry or make me remember my own grief/trauma. Which is awesome for an author to be able to too, but it made me feel too much 🥲
Still recommend it, it’s just one I won’t be replaying often.

Surprising

I did not see the plot going where it went! I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the book and the message the author was trying to send. I enjoyed the realism of the book. Very well written.

Emotional, heart-wrenching read!

Deadly Illusion, an Audiobook by Kathy Lockheart, is the intensely emotional, frightening, devastating story of Damian and Jenna. She’s fearful of her ex…and when Damian helps her out of a situation, things get even more intense. The feelings and genuineness of this story made it that much more emotional and heartbreaking. The writing is beautiful, emotional, and thought-provoking. I absolutely loved this story!!

This Audiobook was narrated by Sarah Puckett and Michael Noman Johnson, who were perfect for portraying these characters. They were sensitive to the topic, when needed, and also emotionally loving, caring, and devoted when needed. I loved the care and sensitivity of the writer in bringing this story to life. Though parts were heartbreaking, the issues are genuine and intensely frightening. Thanks for bringing us this story!!! I especially loved The Inspiration at the end of the book. Thank you!

Wonderful writing

I really enjoyed this author’s writing style—it was engaging and well-crafted—but overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I tend to avoid stories with heavy on-page domestic abuse, and this one leaned into that theme more than I was comfortable with. That being said, I appreciated the way the author handled the main character’s journey and how they ultimately overcame the situation. The resilience and strength woven into the plot were definitely highlights, even though the subject matter was tough to read at times.

What did work for me was the mystery/thriller element that ran through the story. It added an intriguing layer that kept me invested, even when the themes weren’t quite my preference. If you enjoy books that tackle darker, more intense topics while delivering a gripping mystery, this one might be right up your alley. While it wasn’t the perfect fit for me, I can absolutely see it resonating with readers who appreciate these kinds of stories.

What a great story

OVERALL: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
•Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
•Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
•Spice Level: 🌶.5/ 5
•Swoon level: 🫠🫠🫠/5
•Emotional:🥺🥺🥺/5
•Re-Listen/Re-Read: Maybe
•Platform: Audiobook and Ebook
•Trope: MMA fighter, Forced Proximity, protective hero, girl escaping relationship.
*Check triggers*


• Thoughts:
This is a new to me author. I was captivated by the blurb and I felt like this was a book I needed to read. My hell, I am glad I did. This does end on a HEA, but getting tonthat point is not easy. This story pulls the truth and what happens in a DV relationship. It is raw, emotional! I can truly appreciate the author and taking this story and telling the story of a full cycle relationship and what happens and the psychological side of the characters! This book was beautifully written!


NARRATOR THOUGHTS: Sarah Pucket and Michael Norman Johnson
•Duet Narration
•Listening at a 1.5 speed.
These narrators are new to me. I felt they hoth did an amazing job expressing the depth of emotions that these characters were experiencing. They did a great job at bringing this story to life and keeping the reader engaged.

•Recommend note:
I will always encourage people to read what makes them happy. If it sounds good, read it! My reviews are just that, my opinion. Happy reading, friends.

Intense listen

Slow start and not quiet what I expected. But once it got into the meat of the story things became very intense. The ending was 😲. It has a happy ending for our hero and heroine but it’s bittersweet and I cried horribly. Not a light listen so beware. This book goes to some scary dark places and it’s quiet intense so be aware of that. The narrators did a fantastic job. I do recommend but be ready for the emotions and yes you will be mad at our characters but hold on it does have a bittersweet ending.